The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-07-22
Potato and Tomato Rot.

Potato and Tomato Rot.
i U. s. Department of Agriculture, !
| July 2. 1887 !
The following Circular on the "Treat.
ment of the Potato and Tomato for
"Blight" and "Rot,'' has been prepared
by the Chief of the Section of Vegetable
Pathology and is hereby distributed
for public information.
| Respectfully,
NORMAN J. CoLMAN,
Commissioner of Agriculture.
TREATMENT OF THE POTATO AND TO-
MATo FOR THE BLIGHT AND ROT.
Sir I'm Circular No 3 Of this sec
ton, addressed to the vineyarists of the
Country, it was suggested that some of
the preparations therein described might
be found useful in preventing potato
"blight'' and "rot," this suggestion be-
ing made upon the knowledge Of the
fact that the fungus which causes the
mildew of the vine is very similar in
character to that which produces the
diseases named above. The published
evidence Of experiments made in
France, in 1886, in the treatment of
potatoes and tomatoes for "blight" and
''rot" with the Bordeaux mixture, gives
additional weight to this subject and
renders it highly probable that by the
application of preparations containing
sulphate of copper we will be able to
prevent, or at least to greatly diminish
the ravages of one of the worst enemies
of the American fasmer.
| Directions for the preparation and
application of the remedies thought
most likely to prove successful are here
presented and it is earnestly recommend.
ed that they be given thorough trial
in order to demonstrate their supposed
value.
| ~ Eau Celeste, Blue Water, (the
"Audoynaud process" s")-Dissolve one
pound of sulphate of copper in 3 or 4
gallons of warm water; when complete
ly dissolved and the water has cooled,
add ] pints of commercial liquid am
nonia, then dilute to % gallons. The
concentrated liquid should be kept in a
keg or some wooden vessel and diluted
when required for use. Apply in clear
weather with a suitable force pump
having fine spraying nozzel, which
will spray the plants thoroughly but
not drench them. Make the fret appli-
cation when the plants are in bloom,
the second a week or ten days later
and, if the weather be such as will fav.
or the development Of "rot," third
and perhaps fourth application should
follow within about the same intervals.
~ Copper Mirture-of Gtronde, Boz.
deaur Mi1tre-Dissolve 4 pounds of
sulphate of copper in 16 gallons of
water; in another vessel slake 4 pounds
of lime in 6 gallons of water. When
the latter mixture has cooled, it is
slowy poured into the copper = ISOLATION,
care being taken to mix the fluids
thoroughly by constant stirring. 1t is
we'll to, have this comp ound prepared
some days before it is required for use.
(The sulphate of copper ought to be
purchased in powdered state, as it dis
solves with difficulty in the ordinary
crystalline torm.) ..r
This liquid, slightly thickened be-
cause of the lime, may be applied with
small brooms or whisps made of slender
twigs, which are dipped into the COM
pound and then switched over the
plants so as to thoroughly spray the
leaves. This method is wasteful and
tedious, however, and where one has
considerable area to cover it would be
economy to procure spraying pump;
the essential features of good machine
are ease and rapidity of application with
economy of material.
Follow the same general directions
in making the applications as are given
under No. |.
(9) ,Sulphatine, (the Esteve process)
Mix 2 pounds of anhydrous sulphate
of copper with 20 pounds of flowers of
sulphur and ten pounds of air slaked
lime.
AZ Plight PoVder--Mix 3 pounds
Of anhydrous sulphate of copper with
81 pounds of flowers of sulphur. This
amount will be sufficient for one appli-
cation to five acres of potato-plants.
Powders possess The advantage over
the liquid remedies of requiring less
labor in transportation and of being
more easy of application, consequently
they will be preferred to the liquids
should they prove equally eficacious.
For applying the powders, which |
ought to be done when there is no wind
and when the leaves are wet with dew
or rain, the primitive arrangement,
made of tin and constructed like large |
pepper box, or rather like an inverted
funnel with fine wire gauze fastened
over the lower end. and which when
filled with the powder, is held over the
plants and shaken, is efficient and at
the same time Aimple and inexpensiye.